MEMBER for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet has slammed suggestions the state government is not delivering infrastructure spending, but also refused to commit to a Bells Line Expressway.
He says the government will continue upgrading Bells Line of Road, as calls from the Central West grow for the government to put a Bells Line Expressway back on the agenda.
The expressway would be a big upgrade of the arterial road between Sydney - and the Hawkesbury - with the Central West region of New South Wales, which supporters say will bring many economic benefits, as well as greater safety along the dangerous road.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Member for Orange Phil Donato has been on the government’s case recently, and has dug up a 2007 campaign leaflet from former Roads Minister and Nationals member Duncan Gay, promising an expressway.
Mr Donato said the government was more than happy to point out Labor’s failings while in office, but that this was one promise that had fallen by the wayside.
“It’s just another broken promise. Here is the Nationals criticising Labor for not doing anything but they have been in power since 2011 and they haven’t done anything either,” Mr Donato said.
“It’s been a decade, they have no excuses.”
Mr Donato also argued that the $2 billion being used to upgrade Sydney stadiums would be better spent building the expressway.
However, Mr Perrottet, the Member for Hawkesbury and the Treasurer, fired back, defending his government’s record on infrastructure spending.
“The NSW Government is proud of its record billion-dollar road infrastructure spend across the state,” he said.
Mr Perrottet listed several items which are either underway in the electorate, or scheduled to begin shortly.
"Hawkesbury has been a beneficiary of this increased roads investment, with projects funded such as new overtaking lanes on Bells Line of Road, the Pitt Town Bypass, the Windsor Bridge Replacement Project, and intersection improvements at Richmond and North Richmond,” he said.
Over the past few years, the government has completed a number of works along Bells Line of Road, including installing new overtaking lanes at several locations, among other works.
Mr Perrottet said the government was committed to improving Bells Line of Road. He did not directly answer the Gazette’s questions about whether the government would build or commit to building an expressway.
"Further upgrades to the Bells Line of Road remain a priority for this government as we continue to deliver the infrastructure that Hawkesbury needs,” he said.
